How, When and Where is Mom Supposed to Make Time?

“The key is not to prioritize
what’s on your schedule,
but to schedule your
priorities.
-Stephen R. Covey

Are you:

Burning the candle at both ends?
Not sure if you’re coming or going?
Running around like a chicken with its head cut off?
Stressed? Burned out? Frazzled? Frustrated?
Sick and tired of being sick and tired?
Looking for Calgon to take you away?
Or wanting to run away to a deserted island, never to return
Then chances are you could use a little help figuring out how to make hobbies and personal time a priority in your life.

Merriam-Webster defines a hobby as a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.

Easier said than done, right? One of the biggest complaints moms offer up is “I don’t have time.” In response, that is correct, you don’t have time, you need to take time.

It’s also been said that you need to make time. It’s important to annotate the difference between making time and taking time. While we’re still at Merriam-Webster, to make is to create, whereas to take is to get into one’s hands or into one’s possession, power, or control.

Just as we don’t have time, I have yet to meet anyone who can actually make or create time.

The focus needs to be on taking time for hobbies and personal time. Take the time into your possession, power or control.

That distinction gives you much more authority about how you spend your days, doesn’t it?

One of the hardest questions to sometimes answer is ‘What do you like to do?’ If you can’t come up with something that doesn’t involve your children, spouse or job/business, then it’s definitely time to come up with a new hobby. Define what it is that you enjoy doing. What did you used to do prior to being bogged down with blessings and obligations?

If you’re still drawing a blank on what it is you like to do try this:

Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies to get a list of hobbies.

Once there you find subtopics such as:

Amateur science related
Animal-related
Arts and crafts
Collecting
Computer-related
Cooking
DIY (Do It Yourself)
Electronics
Film-making
Games
Historical reenactment
Interactive fiction
Internet-based hobbies
Literature
Model (scale model) building
Music
Observation
Outdoor/nature activities
Performing arts
Photography
Sports or other physical activities
Toys of some sophistication
and Transportation.

Each subcategory will give you additional links to click to find more suggestions in each category. You ought to be able to find something that either interests you or triggers a suggestion for something you hadn’t yet considered.

No idea is too silly. The idea it so find something for you to do that is just for you. What will recharge your batteries and prevent future burn-out? Look at the list; you’re bound to find one or more activities of interest.

Selecting a hobby may be the easy part. However you’re thinking but “When will I have time to do it? My plate is already full!” Consider the possibility that your plate is full because you haven’t taken time out for yourself. There’s an interesting spin on time management.

Are you making the best use of your time? Ask yourself that question throughout the day. Are you really lacking that much time? Or are you perhaps not making the best choices. Life is all about choices. Yet you lament, “I have to do this or that!” Not quite.

The only thing I can think of that you truly have to do is leave this earth some day. Everything else is a choice. You don’t have to pay taxes. You don’t have to live in a certain place; work at a particular job; schedule so many extracurricular activities; get dinner on the table at a certain time; say yes to everyone who requests you to do something; eat certain foods, avoid others; exercise, and so forth. Albeit there will be consequences if you don’t choose some actions, yet you don’t have to.

Ask yourself, “What is the absolute worst thing that will happen if I don’t _____?” Fill in the blank with whatever actions you currently find yourself bound to. We know one response. What is the absolute worst thing that will happy if I don’t take time for my personal interests?

If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you will continue to get what you’ve always gotten. So… how’s that working for you?

Schedule personal time just as you would an important meeting.

Put it on your calendar, in your PDA, on your Blackberry, or on the refrigerator. Just do it. Invite girlfriends to join you in it or join classes or clubs if you need accountability or support of others.

Your life is the sum result of all the choices
you make, both consciously and unconsciously.
If you can control the process of choosing,
you can take control of all aspects of your life.
You can find the freedom that comes from
being in charge of yourself. Robert F. Bennett